My Laptop Crashed Big Time!

[Devine.Integrity]

I was just using my computer when I decided to restart it because it was awfully going slow and I opened it again but this time it said "DISK READ ERROR PRESS CTRL+ALT+DEL" to restart. SO I did, however, it kept showing that screen and I cant go back! I was so shocked. I askd my friend and he said my harddrive crash! I was like WHAT? Does this mean I cant get a hold of any of the files I had anymore? Please help me and give me some advice.

[Guest aznfishyfart]

yea it pretty much means ur hdd died

there are program for recovery....i have to look for some also since my external hdd died

but yes it is possible to recover some of the files

[Devine.Integrity]

yea it pretty much means ur hdd died

there are program for recovery....i have to look for some also since my external hdd died

but yes it is possible to recover some of the files

Oh, please tell me me what do use when your done looking for them, however how can I use them if my computer can not even go on the login page.

[awdark]

Uhh basically... your hard drive is probably physically damaged. Like its not spinning right anymore or something. I vote time for a new hard drive (Frys sells a 500gb one for $130 )

Then just copy over your old files to your new drive.

[Devine.Integrity]

Uhh basically... your hard drive is probably physically damaged. Like its not spinning right anymore or something. I vote time for a new hard drive (Frys sells a 500gb one for $130 )

Then just copy over your old files to your new drive.

Wah? Are you serious? So I have to buy a new one? I cant just reboot the laptop or something? DO you know why hardrives occur or anything like that? Cause im a bit curious, Because I did download lots of things, could that be the thing for causing it? Well thanks for a response, awdark!

[awdark]

Okay, laptop ones are a bit more expensive but makes a lot of sense.

okay, don't try this at home I took apart a laptop hard drive haha

First thing I want you to realize is the density and speed of it all... for this particular drive it was a 20gb drive, 2.5" in diameter that fits 20gb... the disk spins at 5400rpm and the head is almost touching (but isnt) the platter as it flies back and fourth reading.

Drive

Opened up

Size comparison

Reading

Reading

So you can imagine any little THUMP will cause the head to bang onto the platter... can cause a little scratch or a nice big one... either way its just a layer of metal on a plate of aluminum or glass.

Most likely your data is still OK but it has become corrupted to the point where the operating system doesn't boot. You can get a USB to IDE adapter for about $10 online (look for like 2.5" enclosure or USB to IDE 44pin) and copy your files onto another computer then try to format.. but I recomend just buying a new laptop drive then use this one as a backup drive that might not be 100% reliable.

[Devine.Integrity]

oh my, thanks for sharing, you really told me things that I have not idea of. Ill bet I would lose a head trying to do your method of taking out the harddrive, I wish you could do it for me. I guess I am going to give up to fixing my laptop right away because it sounds so hard an expensive. I mean, what can cause a hardrive failure? Is it just out of the blue! I was so mad that day that I couldnt even show my own anger. *Sigh. Now I got to find 130 bucks. 500mb seems a little bit though? My hardrive that crashed had 130 gb left. =( Though thanks for helping me awdark, i really appreciate it.

[Guest iamsars]

^u cant get a 500 gb hard drive for a laptop...

the max for a laptop is like 200 gigs i think..(well wat i saw) cuz i saw frys electronics selling 200 gig for $200... kinda expnsive lol

[Guest hanpil]

^u cant get a 500 gb hard drive for a laptop...

the max for a laptop is like 200 gigs i think..(well wat i saw) cuz i saw frys electronics selling 200 gig for $200... kinda expnsive lol

He said external hdd

[Guest tony]

Ill bet I would lose a head trying to do your method of taking out the harddrive, I wish you could do it for me.

You can't. Basically, your hard drive would be useless after you open it up. The platter would catch the dust in the air immediately, rendering it useless.

[Devine.Integrity]

Uhh...thanks for your uguys suggestions, but I keep telling random people wether to reboot it or just buy a new hardrive. Many of my friends are just saying to reboot it with the Application reboot CD. I mean, I dont really care no more about the old random files. Just a quick question though, will my norton virus protection be deleted as well as all the other applications I have downloaded like WM11. Im thinking of installing Vista than the XP. Should I or should I not?

[awdark]

Yeah, I was simply trying to show the amazing precision in such a small package.

Vista or XP?

How many GB of ram do you have? Anything less than 1 is a joke on Vista.

Go ahead and restore/format to XP. Just be careful. You might loose files.

Also consider XP repair install or doing a FULL format.

[Devine.Integrity]

Yeah, I was simply trying to show the amazing precision in such a small package.

Vista or XP?

How many GB of ram do you have? Anything less than 1 is a joke on Vista.

Go ahead and restore/format to XP. Just be careful. You might loose files.

Also consider XP repair install or doing a FULL format.

OH thanks awdark for the response. I mean, are *deleted* and some people are saying that it is just a theme for Windowns XP.

Oh shoot, more bad news, I have certainly LOST or could not find my reboot disc. I am so screwed now! Gah, do you think I can download the Microsoft XP reboot disc anywhere else so I can put it up on my laptop and stuff? Thanks.

[Guest YoochunsGirl]

OH thanks awdark for the response. I mean, are there illegal ways to get VIsta, I mean I just want to know, Im not going to at all, but I heard people have been getting it without buying it and stuff, and some people are saying that it is just a theme for Windowns XP.

Oh shoot, more bad news, I have certainly LOST or could not find my reboot disc. I am so screwed now! Gah, do you think I can download the Microsoft XP reboot disc anywhere else so I can put it up on my laptop and stuff? Thanks.

if i was you i wouldnt even write this, soompi is really strict about people talking about illegal ways to get software. my suggestion is to take it off, even though you said you werent going to do it, dont write it

[Devine.Integrity]

more bad news! when i reboot my comp it still says that error! what should i do now : (

[awdark]

Remember when I said your hard drive has PHYSICAL damage?

you found the physical damage! Its like a scratched CD no matter how hard you try to read it just cant read it.

Just buy a new hard drive, figure out what type you use, SATA or IDE (usually IDE) and just plug in a new one. Should be a fairly painless process maybe like 3 screws unless you have a apple.

Edit: cant really try now, but you can run Speedfan to check out the SMART status on the drive.

You can search for your drive manufacture, like Seagates has Seatools.. then burn it onto a CD and boot to that utility to do a scan on the drive to prove to yourself your drive is broken...

[Guest bishie]

I'm not sure if you tried this but if you eject the hard drive tray thing blow on it and slide it back in again sometimes that solves that issue in laptops. Elsewise as awdark said your hard drive may be toast.

[Devine.Integrity]

Thanks bishie for the recomendation however it did not work =[ But thanks!

So instead of doing everything by myself, I decided to give my laptop to my mom to try and fix it. In total, it probably took her about 8 hours to fix it [thats what she told me], and for some crazy reason, my laptop is working again. I asked her what method she used and she didnt tell me. I even turned off the computer and stuff like that just to make sure it isnt doing that wierd thing and it DOESNT to it no more. I am being driven insane on whether my laptop is still going to do that error message. I mean I restarted it about 3 times. Do you think it will come back awdark? Well hopefully not.

Oh yeah, can anyone explain to me the reason why I got my harddrive failure.

Heres some characteristics I do:

1] I spend 5-7 hours on my laptop a day

2] I always leave the charger on that when I take it out, my battery life is less than 30 mintues.

3] I download lots of things everyday most preferably 2-3 HQ vids a day. And LOADS of mp3's.

4] When I get mad I bang the side of my laptop.

Can those be reasons why my computer crashed? I should have never yelled that I wanted to kill Mr. Toshiba's family, I regret it. Also I regret saying I wanted to kill Mr. Linksys's children.....

[awdark]

Yeah, impact and tons of activity will probaby cause lots of damage.

The drive is very precise and impact really messes with it.

From the sounds of it yuo have abused it... so just buy a new drive already >.<

[Guest GO!zilla]

1-3 is okay... #4 ur asking for the laptop to break lol.

another thing is to use it on a flat 180 degree horizontal surface. using it on a tilted services shortens the life of a drive as gravity takes toll. (thats why they say dont put your tower on its side if it wasn't meant to be like that)